I could see that my husband, Sam, was becoming more and more withdrawn. I remember going out together to see friends, but I could tell he was somewhere else mentally.
It was a couple of years ago that I first started to experience depression. For the first six months, I didn’t really talk to anyone about it. I didn’t want to burden anyone with my problems or add to their load.
It was in 2012 that I started to experience anorexia nervosa, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety – as well as depression and a suicide attempt in August 2014. My dad was the first to notice a change in my behaviour. It was a shock when my parents sat me down to talk to me – and it was a lot to take in.
As a Time to Change Champion, I wanted to share why I do what I do and how talking about mental health has helped me overcome my own challenges. I am an (almost) 50 year old mum of two, and I have experienced anxiety and depression for most of my adult life as result of the trauma I experienced dealing with an alcoholic parent who has mental health challenges of their own.
